Via Tampa Bay Times:
The internal theft of five laptop computers from U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base went undetected until a supplier noticed four of them advertised on eBay, according to federal court records.
A CentCom official ordered an inventory, putting it in the hands of a Riverview man who now admits to being the thief.
Scott Duty’s signed federal plea agreement spells out those details and more, in anticipation of a hearing next month in which he is expected to plead guilty to stealing government property.
Duty, a former civilian CentCom employee who is 48, could face up to 10 years in prison.
There’s no evidence of a data breach, U.S. Attorney’s Office spokesman William Daniels said in February, when Duty was indicted, and again on Tuesday.
The indictment alleged that Duty stole computers worth $5,499. Further investigation showed he also took electronic switches and tablets, the plea agreement states. In all, the devices were worth $28,137.
“Duty had no right to any of this property,” the plea agreement states.
The items were sold to a business in Brandon, which then put them on eBay. The business isn’t named in the court paper.